By Fanuel Chinowaita
Mutare, 20 January 2026– Mutare Town Clerk Mr Blessing Chafesuka has assured residents that the refuse collection crisis that has affected parts of the city over the past weeks will be resolved today, noting that the municipality had been battling a backlog of between two and three weeks due to widespread breakdowns of refuse collection trucks.
Addressing journalists yesterday at the Mutare Civic Centre, Chafesuka said although not all residential areas were affected, some suburbs were severely impacted, exposing the fragile state of the city’s waste management system.
“We had a backlog of about two to three weeks. Not all areas were affected, but some were badly hit. That confirms the state of our refuse collection challenges,” he said.
Chafesuka explained that the crisis was triggered by simultaneous mechanical failures within the city’s refuse collection fleet. Out of a total of 17 refuse trucks, 10 broke down at the same time, far exceeding normal expectations.
“We have a fleet of 17 trucks, but the optimum number required to operate efficiently is 12. Unfortunately, 10 trucks broke down at once, which is very rare,” he said.
He revealed that two trucks suffered chassis damage, with one repaired and returned to service yesterday, while the other was repaired in Harare and expected to be released yesterday. Two old UD trucks require complete engine replacements, while other vehicles need major component changes or minor mechanical attention.
“In total, we have two engines down, two chassis damaged, four trucks needing complete overhauls and others with minor issues,” Chafesuka said.
To stabilise the situation, the municipality engaged its parent ministry, the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, and hired additional trucks to clear the refuse backlog.
“We engaged our parent ministry and hired trucks. By tomorrow, which is today, refuse collection will be back on schedule,” he said.
Chafesuka further announced that two new refuse collection trucks are expected to be delivered within the next two to three weeks to strengthen the city’s fleet.
He urged residents to remain patient and avoid illegal dumping during the recovery period.
“We just want to encourage residents to be patient and avoid dumping refuse indiscriminately. This situation was extraordinary, with 10 trucks breaking down at the same time,” he said.
The Town Clerk also blamed the poor state of Mutare’s roads for accelerating vehicle breakdowns, citing chronic underfunding of road maintenance.
“Our roads are grossly underfunded, and we are losing what little infrastructure we have left,” he lamented.
Chafesuka revealed that the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (ZINARA) allocated only four percent of the city’s required road maintenance funding last year, with the annual allocation slightly above ZWL$500 000—an amount he said was inadequate even for basic repairs.
He noted that procurement regulations further compound the problem by delaying the acquisition of spare parts and critical repairs.
“Under current procurement laws, acquiring spare parts involves lengthy procedures and strict compliance protocols, making it almost impossible to respond quickly during emergencies,” he said.
Chafesuka disclosed that he intends to seek waivers from the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) to allow more flexible and responsive procurement processes.
“I am advocating for waivers from PRAZ, given the urgent need for vehicle repairs,” he emphasized.
On the city’s finances, Chafesuka said Mutare requires approximately 10 million USD annually for road maintenance, yet collections remain far below projections. He said the city collects about 1.2 million USD per year from road levies, while parking revenue nets between 23 000 USD and 25 000 USD per month.
“These figures show a serious mismatch between our infrastructure needs and our revenue inflows,” he said.
The Mutare City Council now expects normal refuse collection services to resume fully today as hired trucks and repaired vehicles return to service.